illustration of main character, Junior, holding a basketball and looking over his shoulder

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

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Themes: Identity

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The question of identity is extremely important in the book, with its title including the phrase “part-time Indian.” The phrase indicates Junior’s conflict between his identity as a Spokane Indian on the reservation and as a student in a white-dominated school. The conflict arises because the two identities have a complex relationship with each other. Further, Junior also feels torn between his identity as an individualistic person interested in art and the pressure to adopt a tough-guy persona. He considers himself an outsider even within the reservation because of his physical condition. Thus, Junior navigates several issues around his identity.

As a Spokane Indian on a reservation (rez), cultural and racial identity preoccupies Junior greatly. He is aware of the great historical injustices meted out to Indigenous people by white people, yet he knows he lives in a majority-white country. While other people like Rowdy believe Indigenous people should confine themselves to the reservation in order to resist white culture, Junior wants to venture out to explore different opportunities. This casts him as a traitor and an “apple,” as he tells Gordy: someone who is “red on the outside and white on the inside.” Leaving the rez school alienates Junior from Rowdy as well. However, when he enters the world of Reardan, he experiences another question of identity. Symbols of racism are all around him: the school’s mascot is a stereotyped image of an Indigenous man, and students call him racist epithets. Further, his nickname, “Junior,” draws sniggers, and the revelation that his real name is Arnold Spirit makes his classmates think he is lying. They simply do not understand the tradition of nicknames that is common on the rez. Junior is torn between his Junior persona and his Arnold persona.

Although Junior is aware that many problems on the reservation—such as poverty and alcoholism—are a direct result of Indigenous people being dispossessed and subjugated, he does tend to look down upon life on the rez. As the narrative progresses, Junior begins to see the vast gulf between opportunities available to his white classmates and his Indigenous friends. While the former are all set for an expensive college education, his Indigenous friends study from decades-old textbooks. At the beginning of the novel, Junior believes that white culture represents hope. However, at the end he realizes that there is great hope, too, in the Indigenous way of dealing with life with humor and celebration. The lack of hope is not an intrinsic function of rez life, but something imposed upon it by racism and lack of opportunities.

Junior now begins to see that the reservation is beautiful. At the same time, he has the epiphany that no person belongs to just one tribe. Every person has multiple identities. The identities do not always need to overlap or fit with each other, and one shouldn’t be ashamed of their affiliations. As his friend Gordy tells him, “life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.” Junior learns to balance his individuality and his various communities.

Expert Q&A

Character Analysis and Development of Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior, the protagonist in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is a young Native American who struggles with his identity and aspirations. He faces adversity both on and off the reservation, including poverty and racial tension. His character development is marked by his resilience, humor, and determination to seek a better future through education and personal growth.

What does Gordy mean by "Life is a constant struggle between being an individual and a member of the community" in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? Is this true for Junior and Gordy?

Gordy's statement means that balancing individuality with community membership is a constant struggle. This is true for both Junior and Gordy in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Gordy, marginalized for his intellectual pursuits, faces this conflict at Reardan High School. Junior, a Native American attending a white school, also struggles with this balance, facing extreme challenges from both his reservation community and his new school environment.

What does Junior's statement about the 'White doctor' imply and what larger issue does it address?

Junior's statement about the "White doctor" implies systemic racism and inadequate healthcare for Native Americans. The doctor used only half the Novocain on Junior due to a racist belief that "Indians only feel half as much pain," leading to a painful dental procedure. This highlights two larger issues: the inadequate funding for healthcare on reservations and the racist perceptions that dehumanize Native Americans, illustrating broader societal inequalities and discrimination.

Junior's character development and growth throughout the story

Junior's character development and growth are marked by his courage to leave his reservation for a better education, facing numerous challenges. He evolves from feeling isolated and conflicted about his identity to gaining confidence and a deeper understanding of himself. His experiences highlight resilience, the importance of hope, and the strength found in embracing his cultural heritage while pursuing his dreams.

Why does Junior refer to himself as a part-time Indian?

Junior calls himself a part-time Indian because he does not feel fully white or fully Indian. He is rejected by people on the reservation for his choice to go to the all-white school, and he is rejected by his white classmates at school because of his Indigenous identity. This makes him always feel like a stranger because he is considered half-Indian in one place and half-white in the other.

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